The final chapter of our discussion on “Bien des la Peau” (click here for the previous excerpts)
STREAMLINE YOUR WARDROBE
Your body is a canvas, and your clothing art. Build your wardrobe around pieces that refelct you, and add one sensational item a season, like that stylish hobo bag tha can double as a diaper bag, or that perfect vintage cocktail dress. “you may find yourself getting rid of more than you keep. But you’ll be left with really functional pieces that show you at your best–and make it easy to get dressed in the morning” writes Kim France and Andrea Linett in The Lucky Shopping Manual.
Pull out every item you have not worn in one year. If you haven’t worn a particular top for a really long time, be honest. Are you ever going to wear it again?
After eliminating the undesirable, you should be feeling more organized.
Some tips:
1) Stick to the solids- they tend to pair together easier. My closet is far smaller than most would think, with only 2 patterned pieces in the entire conglomeration.
2) Go easy on the “high” fashion items, unless you want to see your special accessory coming and going everywhere.
Go through one more time now and think what new items you can use to update this present wardrobe. Are you missing some indispensables? (Click HERE to see a general list) If you have the basic framework you will be able to put together multiple outfits. There are so many ways you can jazz up a black skirt and white blouse. (Every woman needs at least 2 wonderful white blouses and a great black skirt.)
And remember, your style will likely change in some way throughout your life, especially surrounding the milestones, such as college, a new baby, moving…etc. As the ancient playwrite, Euripides once said, “know thyself and dress accordingly.”
BEFRIEND FABULOUS FEMALES
They say you are who you associate with. Enjoy relationships that make you want to improve and strive for excellence. Look for other fantastic females through activities that interest you. (such as church, tennis leagues, cooking classes, exercise groups etc.). May I encourage you to look for older women as well. Women who have gone before, who have the wisdom of their life-experience who you desire to emulate (your mother is a good place to start). Find a mentor, who can keep you accountable to your goals. Host a monthly afternoon tea, a grown-girl slumber party, or signatur annual event like a summer art show, or book swap.
Attract others immediately through your conversation. The more you talk about the other person and not yourself, the more interesting you become to them. Become genuinely interested in others, listening well to what they say. Whatever your personality, be the girl in the room everyone finds fascinating.
SEEK OUT YOUR PASSIONS
Do you have a vision? My motto is, start small, dream big. Even the most lethargic have some kind of desire to see change, to do something meaningful. Keeping your overall vision in mind, create a list of things you want to experience and accomplish, whether it includes something as grand as playing in Carnegie Hall, or as simple as repainting your bedroom. You love to cook? Perfect your creme’ brulee. You run? Sign up for a 5K. You’re an indie film aficianado? Buy a membership to and support your local arthouse cinema. Seek out what illuminates you, what activity makes you “glow” inside? The more you pursue your interests, the more interesting you become. An adventurous attitude creates meaning in even the most seemingly basic pursuits: a simple love for dark chocolate, say, become an invigorating quest for the tastiest bite out there, and the finding is all the …bitter-sweeter.
When you bring your authentic self and your energy to your life’s activities, you begin to see yourself at your best, gain more self-possession, and become even more that glowing woman who is mysteriously and alluringly comfortable in her own skin.
